Frank Seravalli

Daily News Staff Writer

While Zach Parise is busy making up his mind, the market for scoring right wingers is shrinking. Jaromir Jagr was tired of waiting for the dominoes to fall.

Jagr is moving to the Western Conference for the first time in his illustrious, Hall of Fame career.

Jagr, 40, reportedly signed a one-year deal worth $4.55 million with the Dallas Stars. If reports are correct, Jagr will play alongside fellow 40-year-old Ray Whitney, who signed with the Stars this week.

Jagr made $3.3 million with the Flyers last season.

Surprisingly, Jagr leaves Philadelphia after just one season with Claude Giroux, where he collected 54 points in 73 games. After losing to New Jersey in the second round, Jagr called it one of the most enjoyable seasons of his career.

"I feel lucky to have had the chance to play with him," Giroux told the Daily News. "He came in and right away tried to help out everybody on the team."

The Flyers were prevented from re-signing Jagr before the July 1 free agency period opened because of tagging space restrictions. They were either unable to re-sign him now because of one of three reasons: (1) Peter Laviolette wasn't willing to guarantee him a specific top-line role next season with special teams time; (2) they weren't willing to give him a $1.25 million raise; or (3) they are still knee-deep in the possibility of signing Parise.

Jagr is 8th on the NHL's all-time points list, just 70 behind former Penguins teammate Mario Lemieux. His $1.25 million raise will push his career earnings to just south of $106 million.

Jagr was noticeably slower in the playoffs and suffered from a recurring groin injury throughout the season. He vowed to be stronger for next season. Now, he’ll be stronger in Dallas - with a more strenuous travel schedule. Jagr has spent his entire NHL career thus far with Pittsburgh, Washington, New York and Philadelphia.

Jagr was one of the Flyers' "Plan B" fallback options if they do not sign Parise. It may be time to start looking at their other "Plan B" in defenseman Matt Carle, should they not be able to bring in Nashville free agent Ryan Suter. If the Flyers do not sign any one of those 3 players, they will be forced to look at the trade market to fill their holes at right wing and on the blue line.